Kelce off to a good start

Monday

A sixth-round pick from the University of Cincinnati, the 191st player taken in the 2011 NFL draft, Kelce has proven to be a quick study. After his first start at center in the Eagles’ third preseason game against the Browns, Kelce is back taking reps with the first unit. Two weeks from now, in St. Louis, he could be the Eagles’ opening day starter.

Kelce is in a battle with eight-year veteran Jamaal Jackson. Starting in 2005, Jackson made 71 consecutive starts for the Eagles. Last season, Jackson tore his right triceps tendon on opening day against Green Bay.

Kelce knows just enough not to take anything for granted.

“I don’t really know what to expect,” Kelce said. “This is my first time being in the NFL, period. This is my first time being in a role where there’s a question whether I would be the starter. In college I knew when I was better than the guy in front of me. Whereas here, obviously, Jamaal is an outstanding player. I don’t even know that if I play my best, if I would be starting.”

Jackson knows what it takes to become an NFL starter better than most. An undrafted rookie out of Delaware State, Jackson was elevated from the practice squad to the starting lineup when starter Hank Fraley was placed on Injured Reserve after eight games of the 2005 season. Jackson won the job for good at the end of the following preseason, when Fraley was traded.

Still, Jackson has been Kelce’s most valuable resource this preseason.

“Jamaal and I have communicated throughout the process,” Kelce said. “He’s about as professional as you can get in this league. He obviously wants to be out there. He wants to be the starter. He’s doing everything he can to help me, to help me progress in my career. He knows there’s a lot of stuff he can pass on to me.”

Kelce’s first preseason start was far from perfect. Early on, communication on the line — a center’s highest priority — was less than perfect. He did lead the way on the team’s first touchdown, a 13-yard Ronnie Brown run. Coach Andy Reid gave his young center a passing grade.

“You know, I thought he did a good job,” Reid said after Saturday’s practice. “Now listen, everybody, we all have stuff that we have to work on, but he did a nice job considering he’s a young guy. He’s one of the guys we’re talking about that got a little bit better than he was in Pittsburgh and can continue to build on what he had learned there with the extended reps, so I was fairly pleased with him.”

With two weeks to go before opening day, the Eagles have yet another revamped offensive line.

Jason Peters is at left tackle. Evan Mathis is the new left guard. Rookie first-rounder Danny Watkins is the right guard. Todd Herremans moves from left guard to right tackle, covering quarterback Michael Vick’s blind side.

Offensive line coach Howard Mudd unveiled the new lineup on Friday.

“I was in there watching films,” Kelce said. “I saw some plays where I did well. Howard called — he usually calls me the day after a game — he wants to know if I watched the film. Then he wants to know if I saw the same things he saw. He wants to make sure I know when I make mistakes.”

The biggest mistake would be to focus his energy on beating Jackson out for a starting spot. Kelce understands his first priority is to learn the NFL game. After that, everything else is out of his hands.

“I’m really not going into it trying to be the starter,’’ Kelce said. “I know that sounds weird but I’m going into it trying to get better every day, trying to improve each and every day. That’s my goal.

“Whether I start or not I have to be ready to play. Even if I am the starter and I make mistakes, that’s not good. So I want to get better, be comfortable and not make mistakes.”